The
I
The Troubles 1969-1997
By Szonja Kocsmar
R
A
After 1921- declaration of an independent Ireland
Conflict between Catholics and Protestant remained in Northern Ireland
Protestant government discriminated the Catholic Irish
Protestants
Staying with the UK
independence,
Inequal treatment of Catholics
(Imperial War
Museum, 2022; Tower Museum Derr, n.d.)
equality
Catholics
Promoting
pushing for
The battle of the Bogside
1969 August
Loyalist protestant, Apprentice Boys,
Victory Parade
Loyalist are consciously passing by
Catholic Bogside
Catholics are provoked
Preparing blockades, Molotov
cocktails and ready for violence
(Roos, 2021)
The Irish
Republican
party
• Parliamentary group
• Was created in response to Battle of the
Bogside
• Purpose: Gain indecency from Britain
• Sinn Féin - political representative of IRA
• 1971- Northern Ireland government taking
IRA members into custody
-NO TRIAL
(Blakemore, 2022)
Bloody Sunday
1972, January 30th
• Final push: ban on marches by the protestant/loyalist
government
• Response: 15,000 nationalist protester in Derry
• Problem: Catholics thought the British Army was there to protect
them – INCORRECT
• Result: British army shut down the protest by opening fire
• The tragedy: 13 dead and 17 wounded
• IRA gained popularity; Britain showed that they are willing to
push down the nationalists
• Chaos nationwide and British direct parliamentary intervention
followed
(Imperial War Museum, 2022; Roos, 2021)
The 70’s and 80’s
Catholics/nationalists
Irish Republican Army
Protestant/Loyalist
•
Ulster Volunteer Force, Ulster
Defense Association
•
Belfast- bombings –9 dead
Reminder of bloody Sunday later labelled as bloody Friday
•
•
Belfast- pub bombings and civilian shootings
•
Dublin and Monaghan- car bombings in 1974- 33
dead
•
•
•
•
•
(Blakemore, 2022; Imperial War Museum, 2022)
England attacks:
Birmingham pub bombings 1974- 21 dead
Attacks at Selfridges, Harrods, Old Bailey 1973, House
of Parliament 1974
Hyde park and Regent's park bombings – 11 killed alongside 7
horse
1984- Brighton Grand Hotel conservative party conference bomb
attack, 5 people were killed
Cousin of the Queen- Lord Louis Mountbatten killed by an explosion on
her boat
• Anglo-Irish Agreement after Brighton bombing
• 1st step towards Irish reunification
Last
try
before
success
• North Ireland residents Reacted with violence
to the idea and the agreement
• 1993-peace process by Prime Minister John
Major
• IRA would not put down the weapons
• IRA London Truck Bomb Explosion – 100
injured
(Blakemore, 2022)
The Good Friday Agreement
After London bombing in 1997, IRA put
down the weapons
1998 April 10th
Power sharing system
devolved state
Part of the UK
Own Legislature system
All Irish referendum
Own Executive system
(Blakemore, 2022; Imperial War Museum, 2022)
Aftermath
Over 4000 people were killed and 47,000
injured over 30 years
Strong remembrance
Still fear from the rise of the conflict
Justice not yet have served for many
16 missing
"You know what? We’re really not all that far on"
-Olivia O'Hara
(Blakemore, 2022)
References:
Blakemore, E. (2022). What were the Troubles that ravaged Northern Ireland? [online] History. Available at:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/the-troubles-of-northern-ireland-history.
Imperial War Museum (2022). What You Need to Know About The Troubles. [online] Imperial War Museums.
Available at: https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-troubles.
Roos, D. (2021). How the Troubles Began in Northern Ireland. [online] HISTORY. Available at:
https://www.history.com/news/the-troubles-northern-ireland.
Tower Museum Derr (n.d.). DIVIDING IRELAND – Tower Museum. [online] towermuseumcollections.com.
Available at: https://towermuseumcollections.com/divided-ireland/ [Accessed 24 Nov. 2022].